Loreena McKennitt
by Grace Sydney

Loreena McKennitt's musical journey of discovery originated from a fascination with her Irish heritage, and over the years her travels around the globe have opened up new avenues of expression as she embraced the sounds of diverse cultures, ranging from the haunting Celtic ballads which represent her family's origins, to exotic Sufi chants.

Never a mainstream artist, Loreena McKennitt has chosen to follow a less-traveled route in her career by becoming a contemporary narrator for tales of romance and remorse penned by long-forgotten balladeers as well as literary icons. Her ethereal voice and use of traditional instruments make it easy to imagine that she has stepped through the mists of time into our present-day world.

A desire for artistic freedom over her craft from conception to fruition prompted Loreena to form her own record label, Quinlan Road. Based in Stratford, Ontario, this nomadic soul has found kindred spirits in the region known for its popular Stratford Shakespeare Festival, which is now celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Sadly, tragedy struck Loreena's life in 1998 with the loss of her fiancé in a boating accident. To honor her soulmate's memory she created The Cook-Rees Memorial Fund, an organization which promotes water safety. While the project has been her main focus during the last few years, she continues singing, and is currently at work on the latest musical chapter of her traveler's journal.

THE MASK AND THE MIRROR

For the gypsy spirit which lies in us all, Loreena McKennitt offers The Mask and The Mirror, a musical mosaic that transcends both time and place. Wander alongside the singer as she journeys through the streets of Morocco in the hypnotic "Marrakech Night

Market", and let her mesmerize you with a folkloric tale in "Bonny Swans". McKennitt pays homage to her literary influences as well, with interpretations of works from Yeats ("Two Trees") and Shakespeare ("Prospero's Speech" from The Tempest).

DISCOGRAPHY
Live From Paris and Toronto- 1999
The Book of Secrets- 1997
A Winter Garden (Five Songs For The Season)EP- 1995
The Mask and The Mirror- 1994
To Drive The Cold Winter Away- 1994
The Visit- 1992
Parallel Dreams- 1989
Elemental- 1985

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